Chestnut Vulva

[Jenjin]

Sweet chestnut, vanilla cashmere, toasted cardamom, and caramel.

[OxfordComma]

Smells like warm cardamom rolls and freshly roasted chestnuts. No bready notes, but more the sugar and spice filling of the rolls. Spicy, warm, almost woody as cardamom sometimes pulls, backed by a 'round' nuttiness. Sweet spices without being the typical cinnamon bun or pumpkin spice scent.  I think the vanilla cashmere is just supporting everything and keeping it cozy. 

[vanilla323]

This was an almost burnt nutty vibe at first but then the vanilla and cardamom come forward. A little perfumey but still nice. I think chestnut is a non sweet nut for me. It was cozy but just not sweet and foodie enough for me. I wanted more caramel and vanilla I think. 

[blair]

warm, spiced cardamom and freshly roasted chestnuts, toasty and nutty with an almost round chewiness to it. the cardamom here is softer than in Perfectly Normal Childhood, and as it dries, i get a hint of brown sugary sweetness that brings out the woody, earthy tones. this is like a cardamom spiced Mont Blanc, subtly sweet and smooth with a hint of spice. nutty, cozy, sweet, yet not quite foodie. 

[ghoulnextdoor]

Chestnut Vulva is an unexpected autumnal fantasy of comforting warmth. Velvety chestnut puree, smooth and sweet, with a subtle hint of milky creaminess; a touch of unsweetened cocoa powder adds unexpected depth, grounding the sweetness with a hint of earthiness, like fallen leaves crunching underfoot, while geese fly low on the horizon. Cardamom's delicate floral spice is whipped into a toasted meringue, a luxurious garnish in a thermos full of this enchantingly warming fall beverage in the dying light of an October afternoon when the spring sun showers seem a long way off.

[Laughing Seagull]

Roasty chestnuts and toasty spices! I would've guessed this was a Yule if I didn't know better because it reminds me of Christmas markets.

 

Even though it's sweet chestnut with caramel, it's not a sugar bomb. It's just a little bit sweet. I agree with the "cardamom roll filling" description from OxfordComma. Occasionally hits close to Chimera.

 

It's quite long lasting and becomes just slightly sweeter as time passes, but never loses sight of its toasty spice base.

 

Verdict: A cozy, low-key wintertime scent. Nice non-cinnamon spice.

[dancingchair]

This is lightly caramelized and spiced warm chestnut on me. The chestnut is so dry that it could almost pass as wood bark. The toasted cardamom almost smells like cardamom incense. It's just a smidge smoky. The dryness of the chestnut almost gives the cardamom the impression of clove. The vanilla cashmere is a soft blanket wrapping up the whole perfume. It's foodie for sure, but it isn't a sugar or a spice bomb to me

 

Usually, my skin amps spices to the point where the other notes are an afterthought. Here, the spices share the stage. It'll be very nice in the fall and winter.

[doomsday_disco]

I agree that this chestnut is woody. It is not a dessert-y mont blanc-esque chestnut, but a fresh one. The cardamom adds a slight smokiness that makes me think of the roasted chestnuts (Maronen) at Christmas markets in Germany. The vanilla cashmere in this takes it in a more sophisticated route so that it is not as foodie as one might expect despite things like caramel and cardamom in the notes. And it's nothing like the cashmeran note in so many Arcana scents that I dislike (for those who were worried about the cashmere note in this). In addition to adding a touch of sophistication, it also contributes to the cozy vibe of this scent. As for the caramel, it's there, but it is never a main player on me. I'd actually say the caramel in Red Lantern is much stronger than it is in this one. It adds a welcome sweetness to the scent that prevents the chestnut from being too dry and woody.

 

I like this, but I'll have to spend more time with it to see if I need more than the decant. But the decant is a keeper! I agree that this would be a nice scent to wear during the colder months when you're craving something comforting and cozy.

[s feral]

when i first put this on, i was reminded of the toasted spiced nut & wool combo in frozen heart & pulse of fire. this is an almost too polite version of that scent to my nose. it’s very toasty, though the initial nuttiness transitions to a dry woodiness pretty quickly. the cardamom & caramel are low key on my skin, things are definitely warm & sweet but not desserty. i really like the vanilla cashmere- it has a touch of clean laundry to it that actually really works to add a crisp edge as well as interest to the composition. a cozy winter time perfume for the tidily dressed. 

[samanare]

A cozy, warm chestnut scent, with just a bit of spice. Definitely a chestnut scent. I cannot pick out the vanilla or cashmere on there own, but there is a noticeable sweetness to the scent and a warm, cozy, roundness that comes from something besides the chestnut. I can just pick out the cardamom, though it's more subtle than I would expect. The sweetness of the scent really pushes back the spice. And I cannot pick out a caramel note at all. Overall, still more of a nutty scent than foodie, cozy, and more sweet than spice.

[Little Bird]

Roasted chestnuts and the excitement of bustling Christmas markets (which always make me feel like a little kid again).  Chestnut Vulva is more than the sum of its listed notes.  I feel like I can smell hints of pine trees, sweet sap, chilly air, and snow, infused into a strong, sweet, spicy, roasted chestnut.  Toasted cardamom smells better to me than regular cardamom, maybe a hint of smoke and a peppery quality to it that deepens the whole scent.  Caramel can be really overwhelming, but it just lends a creamy sweetness here, and I get more vanilla than caramel overall.

Tons of throw and lasts up to around the 6 hour mark on me before it starts to fade.  Has me craving Yules when we are still in spring...

[roseus]

This is delicious! Smells like some sticky cardamom confection. The chestnut has its own earthy sweetness, the nuttiness helps ground the vanilla and caramel and I get tons of cardamom sprinkled over top. It's sweet but not cloyingly so. It is transporting me to deep winter, cozied up against the weather and eating something incredible.

[Cali]

Woww, chestnut chocolate vanilla filling!! Super realistic foody delight. Getting small flecks of caramel in the background. Dries down to something less strong and sweet (perhaps maybe for the best), and has a nice eathy grit from the cardamom and chestnuts. Really nice!!

[Amoraexcena]

Exactly as advertised! It's a sweet, gently spiced marron creme dessert with vanilla whip and caramel drizzle. Very pleasant and comforting, though I feel it suits an autumn or winter vibe more than spring. I want cool weather, a nice warm mug of black tea, a cozy throw blanket, a good book, and a candle with this. With raindrops pattering against the windowsill. In the far drydown, the cashmere part peeks through a bit more, making it a little less foody and a little more gourmand. 

 

It's raining and quite cool today in Vancouver so it's perfect. 

Edited July 29 by Amoraexcena